Vacation Stash Purchases

It's Sunday morning and I'm sitting on the deck with the tempature 73 degrees. Just wonderful. It just started raining a little while ago, which we need but I hope I don't have to go inside. The new screen gazebo we have on the deck is so enjoyable.
We can sit out at night without the bugs and like now I can enjoy the sound of rain without being in the house.
Steve left early this morning for a farm extracation class they have having at the fire station this weekend. When he left I just decided to sleep in and when I woke up it was exactly 10:00. I can't believe I slept that late. I might still be asleep if it wasn't for Emmie licking me in the face to let her out.
Well, here's the buys I made while on vacation.
Quaker Gone Tropic by Michelle Ink. I love the twist she put on the quaker look. It calls for Silks from The Thread Gatherer but I have sooo much Needle Necessities that I was going to see if I have anything that will be a close match but if not I'm going to order the silks.


Next is Blooming With Inspiration by Blue Ribbon Designs. I love her designs.


Dragonfly Quaker by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg.

Fruit Of The Vine by Rosewood Manor.


Victoria's Quaker by A Mon Ami Pierre


Nantucket Summer Sampler by By The Bay.


Bayside Bungalows by Country Cotttage Needleworks.


Love Is In The Air by Blackbird Designs


Mermaids by Country Cottage Needleworks. I really like the colors in this, it may be one that goes in my rotation soon.


My Favorite Kitten by Primitivebetties. I want to do several in different colors and put in a basket.

Berry Time by Blackbird Designs

And finally a Doodle by Hobb-Nobb called Where's the Cat?

The rain has continued and I had to come inside about half way thru posting this. Steve is home and now we have to go to Wally World.
I did alot of picture taking so will have new posts with photos again soon.
Have a good day.
Deana

Photo Finish

I finally got some time to take some pics of my pieces I finished while on vacation. 1st, Here's Lacey Pinks by Debbie Draper Designs. This pattern had the floss with it when I purchased it. The pink was a little loud for me and it seemed brighter when I laid the floss on white fabric. So I dyed my 28ct white with beet juice. Yep, right out of the can. I think it ended up being just the right color for the floss.

2nd is Summer Blue. The pattern shows it stitched in navy blue. But I decided to change it to a Needle Necessities floss.

And finally Dance of the Bumble Bee from Bent Creek.

Now I have to decide what I want to put into the rotation to replace these 3 finishes.

I made several purchases while on vacation. On our way to Gulf Shores, we were able to stop by Shakespears Peddler in Hattiesburg, MS. Bought a few patterns there.
Then while in Gulf Shores, I had to make 3 trips to Needle Delights. The 1st trip, to see what was new and buy a few things, plus place an order with them. The 2nd trip was to pick up the order and see what I missed the 1st time. And then there was the 3rd trip, just to get one more stitching fix before leaving to come back to MO.

The heat has just been awful so tomorrow will probably be a good stitching day. I'm still trying to get caught up from being gone for 2 weeks. I finally got the laundry done except for the sheets and quilt from the bed in the camper. Still have to bring more stuff in from the camper. Mostly things I bought and stored under the bed while traveling. It's easier if I have Steve help me because you have to hold the bed up while someone gets the stuff out from under it.
We want to redo the basement with a "beachy" theme, and found several things while we were traveling that will look really good in there. I'm keeping my eyes open for some neat pieces for it. I have bought some cross stich patterns too that I want to stitch for it too. I also bought 2 Crepe Myrtle bushes and have to get them planted this weekend.

I was picking blackberries Wed. night in our backyard when I got stung by a bumble bee. I didn't know those things could hurt so bad. I have this huge red spot on my leg that itches me to death. When I got stung,I jumped out of the patch and we were trying to figure out where it came from when we saw alot of them flying around. They have nested in the middle of the patch. Last night I quietly walked around outside the patch looking for them and found where they are nested. Tomorrow will be a trip to Westlakes for bee killer. I hate to kill them because I know they benefit the flowers but I can't get in there to pick my blackberries,so they must go.

And I must go for now. Next time I will have pics of what I bought at the needlework shops.

Happy Stitching,
Deana

Where did June go?

Holy Moly!!!! I just looked at my blog and can't beleive June 2nd was the last posting I did. June just flew by. We left June 19th for vacation to Gulf Shores, AL and got home July 6th. As always we have the best time there. We stay at the State Campground in Gulf Shores. How it has changed over the 7 years we've been going. We started vacationing there a year or 2 before Hurricane Ivan blew thru and destroyed just about everything in that area. The campground was full of trees when we first stayed there. Ivan hit that area just 2 weeks before we were to leave so we couldn't go that year. The next year, and every year since we go back. The storm surge killed almost all the trees in the park, but each trip back, we see new growth. The campground is sooo nice. Clean,great shower houses,close to the beach, everyone is friendly.
This year we didn't have internet because they are doing some construction in the park. Hopefully by next year the store, laundry, activity center and a pool will be complete.
The pool would have been nice to have this year. The heat was awful. Heat index over 100 every day.
The first week we were there I stayed in the camper most of the day stitching while Steve went fishing. I finished 3 projects that I took along.
I know I have the rotation system going, but for vacation, I decided to pick and choose the projects to take from the rotation.
I managed to finish, Dance of the Bumble Bee, Summer Blue, and Lacey Pinks.
I made 3 trips to Needle Delights in Pensacola.
I will post pics of what I purchased at a later time. I picked up some fabric there and started a tooth fairy pillow for our grandson Austin.
We had been in Gulf Shores just a couple of days when the camera I bought in Oct. decided to quit. So I had to buy another one. I took some pics but still have to download them to my computer, and I just don't feel like it tonight.
After being gone and going back to work the day after getting home, I've been trying to play catch-up.
When we got home on Monday, Steve was going to put some fish in the freezer in the basement that he had caught, when we found out the freezer went out while we were gone. It had to have quit shortly after we left because there wasn't even a chill in any of the food. And the smell.....you can just imagine. So instead of unpacking the camper, we spent the afternoon trashing all the food and hauling off the freezer plus mopping the workshop floor.
Tues. back to work. It was also my birthday. Steve bought me a black diamond turtle necklace that I found a while back and had forgotten about it. It was a nice surprise. I love it.
I need to stop for now. I have a super headache and think I'll get my frozen flax seed pillow for my head and go to bed.

Deana

It's June Already!!

Almost half the year is gone and I have not stitched nearly as many projects as I thought I could by this time. I can't post any pictures because my daughter has the cards out of both my cameras. I had taken pictures of the dogs while we had cousin Cloe and they wanted to print some out. I really need to play catch up on my projects.
As far as stitching goes..... I've been stitching alot on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow.
I'm almost done with the 3rd motif on Quaker Christmas Sampler, and have stitched a little on Yellow House Sampler.
Since my last post, I framed Prairie Schoolers, L is for Leaf, M is for Mermaid, and N is for Nest.
I did order 4 charts that I found marked down on Needle Delights website.

I went out on the deck to stitch tonight but a thunderstorm has moved in, forcing me to move in too. I guess I'll just stitch in the living room and watch it rain.
We went camping this last weekend. The first time we have been able to get away.
Just 3 more weeks and it's vacation. Our yearly trip to Gulf Shores, Al. We love it there and never want to come home.
We pull our 25" travel trailer so the dogs can go to. There's no way I could board them for even a day, much less two weeks. They love to go camping. The dalmation starts wining the minute we start loading the camper. And Molly, the older of the 2 poms just sits by the truck door, like she's afraid if she doesn't wait at the door she might get left behind. And then there"s puppy pom, Emmie. She doesn't have a clue as to what we're doing but she'll go along with what the other 2 dogs tell her.
She was just 10 weeks old last year when we went to the Gulf in Oct.

I think it's time to go stitch now. I should be able to get in a couple of hours tonight.
Thanks, for stopping by.
Deana

No Pictures, Just a Post

I hadn't looked at my blog lately and didn't realize it has been almost 2 weeks since my last posting. Since my last post, I have finished Prairie Schooler N is for Nest and ready to start O is for Owl in the rotation. Next in line though is Yellow House Sampler that I believe is by Praiseworthy. But as I'm setting out on the deck enjoying the weather, I'm not for sure. I'll have to correct myself later if it's wrong because I don't want to go look. I did get it started just a little and will get a picture posted soon. I've making a little more headway on Quaker Christmas.
We finally got our gazebo with the screens on the sides so now I have been setting outside enjoying it. I took Quaker Christmas out last night and set and stitched until it was too dark to see. Today, for the 1st time since the weather turned warm,I took my stitching to work with me and during lunch I went to the park and stitched thru my lunch hour. I decided to stitch on Summer Blue since I'm not making much progress on it, because it has been my Thurs. night stitching piece. So I got a little more done in that hour. After work it was fast food for Steve and I and the he went to work and I went to my stitching group.
Sunday, we went to our youngest daughter and son in laws. She had a box full of daffodils that she had dug up from someone that was getting rid of a large flower bed, so she dug me a bunch too. I'm not sure I can find room for all of them but I will try because they will be so pretty next spring.
I can't wait until tomorrow. Then it's a 3 day weekend. Steve will have to work, as the job he has requires him to work all holidays. While the plant is shutdown for any holiday, he is one of the guys that go in and work on any equipment that needs work that can't be done during production. Next weekend will be our weekend to go camping for the 1st time this year.
This weekend since he will be working, my goal is to finish planting flowers, transplant some and the put mulch down. Then I want to shampoo the carpet in the camper, and get it ready for next weekend.
Our oldest daughter and son in law left for Mexico Tuesday so we are babysitting their dog and cat until next Wed. They have a cat named Cabo and a dashund in a beagle suit puppy named Cloe. She is the same age as Emmie, so they love to get together and play. She is so funny. She really does look like a dashund in a beagle suit. She is built exactly like a dashund but has the coat of a beagle. And occasionally gives out that beagle howl.
Well, I think that's it for tonight. Hopefully I can post some new pics this weekend.
Happy Stitching
Deana

Flowers, trees, grass....Allergies!!!!

May has finally come. I love the flowers,the trees have leaves ,birds are singing, and my allergies have gone crazy. My nose is running, eyes itching, coughing, I feel like I can't take a deep breath and I have no energy. Oh, and my ears and throat are itchy. Other than that, I think every thing else is just fine. I have had the windows open to breath the fresh air and hear the birds singing after being cooped up all winter and have been miserable for the last week. The house is now closed back up with the air conditioner on. Not how I would like it but I am feeling alot better today.
Last Friday I thought it was a cold but have now decided it isn't. Yesterday was the worst, I could hardly make it thur work. When I got home I hit the couch for the night.
I haven't stitched much this week, I have an updated picture of Houses of Hawk Run Hollow, house #6.

Sunday is when I usually get most of my stitching done, but this last Sunday I just couldn't get motivated. I was going to start one of my new rotation pieces, Yellow House Sampler, but after trying to get things pulled together, I didn't have a scroll rod set or Q snap to put it on. I have it stitched onto the scroll rods, I just don't have the end bars for it. So I need to have Steve make me a couple. He has done that before, using the orginal end bars as the pattern. A trip to the hardware store for wing nuts and I'm good to go.
I ran by the greenhouse tonight and picked up some perrinals for one of the flower beds. I hope I can get them planted over the weekend.
Here's a simple flower picture from one of my magnolias.

Their pretty much gone now and the bushes have leaved out.
That all for now. I think I'll go stitch on Houses again for tonight.
Happy Stitching,
Deana

Just some quick posting to update this weeks happenings.
Last night we got about 3" of rain (so I hear).Lots of flash flooding this morning. A whole list of road closings on the radio this morning as I was getting ready for work. Since I'm not quite 3 miles from work I don't have to deal with any of them. But I did get a surprise when I got home from work tonight.
The basement leaked in the family room. Steve came in from work this morning and found it. He spent a good amount of time this morning moving furniture and wet vacing the carpet. Then after he left tonight I put in an hour with it.
We have a dehumidifier and fans blowing on it now. Hopefully we can get it dried out quickly. Everything from one side of the basement is now piled up on the other side.
It has the dogs total confused.
The weather channels are calling for rain off and on for the next several days, so I might as well leave everything where it is and keep the wet vac close by.

I don't have any new pics tonight. I have stitched the last couple of nights on The Prairie Schooler, N is For Nest. I don't have much more to do, but since it is one of my rotation pieces I keep by my chair in the basement, no stitching on it for a few nights. I think I'll go upstairs and stitch a little on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow or Quaker Christmas. I really need to be in my sewing room working on the organizing I have started. But that's no going to happen.

I think it's time for a soda, sofa and stitching.
That's it for now.
Deana